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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Roger Corman
USA 1963

 

The legendary “Triumvirate of Terror”—Vincent Price (Scream and Scream Again), Peter Lorre (The Comedy of Terrors) and Boris Karloff (The Crimson Cult)—star in this twisted tale of sorcery most fowl! Director Roger Corman (The Tomb of Ligeia) and screenwriter Richard Matheson (The Last Man on Earth) deliver a tongue-in-cheek take on Edgar Allan Poe’s most famous poem. Dr. Craven (Price), the son of a great sorcerer (now dead), was once himself quite skilled at that profession, but has since abandoned it. One evening, a cowardly fool of a magician named Bedlo (Lorre) comes to Craven for help—the evil Scarabus (Karloff) has turned him into a raven and he needs someone to change him back. He also tells the reluctant wizard that Craven’s long-lost wife Lenore (Hazel Court, The Premature Burial), whom he loved greatly and thought dead, is living with the despised Scarabus. Featuring Jack Nicholson (Prizzi’s Honor) in an early screen role, this Corman-Poe classic about two wizards dueling for magical supremacy is utterly bewitching!

***

Although Roger Corman narrowly managed to avoid self-mockery in his pulpy, flamboyant adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe tales, it appears that the director chose this opportunity to let loose with outright parody; the result is a wonderfully entertaining romp with tongue planted firmly in cheek. The first screen teaming of legendary horror stars Boris Karloff, Vincent Price, and Peter Lorre -- later billed as "The Triumvirate of Terror" -- this so-called "adaptation" uses Poe's most famous poem as a springboard for Grand Guignol comedy from scriptwriter Richard Matheson. Melancholy magician Erasmus Craven (Price), having recently relinquished his membership in the Brotherhood of Sorcerers after the apparent death of his wife Lenore (Hazel Court), is paid a visit by a foul-mouthed talking raven, claiming to be small-time wizard Adolphus Bedlo (Lorre). After some persuasion, Craven returns Bedlo to human form, reversing a spell placed by the evil Dr. Scarabus (Karloff), Craven's chief rival. After learning that a woman bearing a strong likeness to Lenore was seen in the Doctor's company, Craven accompanies Bedlo to Scarabus' castle, where the resulting battle of wills escalates into all-out magical warfare between the two embittered sorcerers. Corman and company relished the opportunity to poke fun at the staid Poe series, and the distinguished leads contribute to the spirit of fun by lampooning their own cinematic reputations. Fans of Jack Nicholson (who cut his acting teeth on this and other AIP productions) should enjoy his melodramatic performance here as Bedlo's straight-arrow son; Nicholson would later co-star with Karloff in Corman's The Terror, which was shot in two days using the same sets.

Posters and one Comic Book

Theatrical Release: January 25th, 1963

Reviews                                                                                                       More Reviews                                                                                       DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray vs. Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover

 

OUR REVIEW:

 

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:26:06.202         1:26:03.324
Video

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 42,851,881,669 bytes

Feature: 26,812,681,152 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.96 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 31,586,523,133 bytes

Feature: 26,960,369,664 bytes

Video Bitrate: 37.90 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate DVD:

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
Isolated Score: LPCM Audio Undetermined 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1560 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1560 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps

Subtitles English, None English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Arrow

 

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 42,851,881,669 bytes

Feature: 26,812,681,152 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.96 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• Peter Lorre: The Double Face, Harun Farocki's 1984 documentary, subtitled in English for the first time (1:01:21)
• An interview with the legendary novelist and screenwriter Richard Matheson (6:35)
• An interview with Roger Corman about making The Raven and the comedy in the film (8:11)
• The Trick, a short film about rival magicians by Rob Green (The Bunker) (12;19)
• Promotional Record (5:41)
• Stills and Poster Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer (2:27)


Blu-ray Release Date:
December 8th, 2014
Custom Blu-ray Case inside slipcase

Chapters 9

Release Information:
Studio:
Kino

 

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 31,586,523,133 bytes

Feature: 26,960,369,664 bytes

Video Bitrate: 37.90 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian David Del Valle
Corman’s Comedy of Poe: An Interview with Producer/Director Roger Corman (8:13)
Richard Matheson: Storyteller (6:37)
TRAILERS FROM HELL with Mick Garris (2:50)
Theatrical Trailer (2:29)
Limited Edition O-Card Slipcase


Blu-ray Release Date:
August 31st, 2021
Standard Blu-ray Case inside slipcase

Chapters 9

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (August 2021): Kino have transferred Roger Corman's The Raven to Blu-ray. I'm going to be brief here because I am not the biggest fan of this 'adaptation'. Almost 7 years since Arrow's 1080P transfer and the Kino does gain an edge - the US image is darker with slightly richer colors. It may be small but I was impressed with how vibrant the Kino looked on my system. 

NOTE: We have added 50 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel (16-bit) in the original English language. It is eclipsed by the 24-bit LPCM mono of the Arrow Blu-ray The Raven has plenty of effects that come through with modest depth and another excellent score by Les Baxter (Master of the World, How To Stuff a Wild Bikini, Switchblade Sisters, The Man With the X-Ray Eyes The Comedy of Terrors, Panic in the Year Zero, US version of Baron Blood, The Beast Within)  sounding clean with consistent dialogue in the lossless transfer. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentary by David Del Valle who fills the commentary to with anecdotes and lesser-revealed details of the production and stellar cast. He is one of the best and always a pleasure to hear the lore of Hollywood in his commentaries. Repeated, and found on the Arrow, are the 8-minute long Corman’s Comedy of Poe interview with producer/director Roger Corman and the 6.5 minutes of Richard Matheson: Storyteller plus a theatrical trailer. Beyond the new commentary is an episode of Trailers From Hell. This one with Mick Garris. The package has the delightful limited edition O-Card slipcase for those that value such.

The Arrow Raven Blu-ray has substantial supplements including an hour-long German documentary - Peter Lorre: The Double Face. It was made by Harun Farocki in 1984 and subtitled in English and is a competent examination of the actors entire career, from Lorre's early days in the theatre with Bertholt Brecht to his untimely death in 1964. There is a 61/2 minute interview with the legendary novelist and screenwriter Richard Matheson and an 8-minute interview with Roger Corman about making The Raven and the comedy found in the film. The Trick is another a short film by Rob Green. This is about rival magicians and runs just over a dozen minutes. There is an audio-only reading for 6-minutes promoting the film, a stills and poster gallery and a trailer.

"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, / Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,/ While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, / As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. / "'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door. / Only this and nothing more."

Roger Corman's The Raven has very cool, if juvenile, effects, grand Gothic sets and iconic stars... but the talking bird and Lorre in the Raven costume were just over-the-top for me - it really dampened my anticipatory mood I may have had in my initial viewing - I still enjoyed it and certainly I was more forgiving as a child. So, yeah, it is a comedy with fantasy/horror elements. I can appreciate that. The stand-alone Kino Blu-ray gives us the new commentary, improved video (which is impacting) and the handsome packaging. Nostalgic fans should see enough value to indulge.

Gary Tooze

 


Menus / Extras

 

Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 

Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

1) Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray TOP

2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray TOP

2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray TOP

2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray TOP

2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray TOP

2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


 

More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE

 

 

 
Box Cover

 

OUR REVIEW:

  

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


 


 

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